Over 1,200 Cornell workers prepared to strike as union group barters for better pay

Workers union and activist group United Automobile Workers and Ithaca’s Ivy-league Cornell University have been at odds since the early 1980s when the UAW local 2300 was formed.

Cornell’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Christine Lovely announced Friday that “Despite the best efforts of the university, the parties have not yet reached a new agreement,” on its latest contract dispute with the group.

The UAW have agreed in a landslide vote to strike if necessary according to the UAW International Union.

Workers under the unions former labor contract with the university – which expired June 30 – represent more than 1,200 groundskeepers, cooks, custodians, greenhouse workers, gardeners, mechanics and other workers at the university, which they claim, should be doing more for them than delaying contract negotiations and offering pay just over $20 per hour.

Lonnie Everett, a UAW international representative, addressed Tompkins County legislators earlier this month , arguing for the county to bridge the gap between the current $15 minimum wage and a “living wage” which he claimed to be well above that.

“We need everybody to step up in order to get a historic contract,” he said in a recent social media post by UAW International. “This university’s very healthy and they afford to do everything that they can to take care of these workers like they've never done before.”

Agreement on safety, but not on pay

Although the local 2300 branch of the international union group has cast some doubt on the issue, calling out the university with its recent motto and rallying cries “Tick tock Cornell,” and “It’s time Cornell,” they have reportedly come to an agreement with the college on a number of key issues including health and personal leave, vacation time, and the health and safety of campus workers.

“We have proposed to the UAW that we use the federal mediator assigned to the negotiations or a mediator of the UAW’s choice to assist the parties in reaching a complete agreement. The UAW has rejected this suggestion,” Lovely said in the statement she addressed to Cornell’s Ithaca campus community Friday.

“The university is aware that the UAW has voted to authorize a strike and has scheduled a rally for today (Friday) at Bailey Hall. If a strike is called, employees represented by the UAW may decide to join the strike or they may elect to report to work. We respect employees’ right to make this decision,” she said.

The university has contingency plans in place to maintain the essential services that these workers provide. Lovely stated that any reduction in campus dining hours or offerings will be communicated with the community “on a rolling basis,” and suggested that employees with questions on the contingency plan should consult with their supervisors.

“The university continues to bargain in good faith,” Lovely said. “We remain hopeful we will find common ground on the remaining open issues and reach a tentative agreement acceptable to the employees represented by the UAW.”

On Thursday the union group released a statement, claiming that the university had “switched lead negotiators” and is completely out of touch with what a livable wage is after the group was presented with its latest offer: 5-years, with an additional $1.30-per-hour in the first year, 75 cents-per-hour in the second, and three more years of 60-cents-per-hour for those under a newly proposed labor contract.

The University’s latest offer to the UAW includes the following, according to Lovely’s statement:

• A 6% wage increase in the first year, with additional increases in each of the additional proposed years.
• Changes to wage rates based on years of service.
• A reduction for new employees to reach the job rate for their positions, from three years to one year.
• An increased wage for some senior employees, recognizing them at 10 years and 25 years of service.
• Bonuses that recognize the longevity of employees at 5 and 15 years of service.
• Increases to clothing and shoe allowances, including improved access for more employees.
• Increased pay rates for employees providing on the job training.
• Increased eligibility for shift differential.
• Support for tipped employees with retirement savings.

“Our bargaining team is now committed to bargaining with the University through the weekend as necessary, right up to our deadline Sunday night. We will not stop fighting for the needs of all of the membership!” Amy Kloc Region 9 Communications Representative said in the statement from UAW Local 2300.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Over 1,200 Cornell workers prepared to strike as union group barters for better pay